U.S. patent number 5,957,557 [Application Number 08/905,596] was granted by the patent office on 1999-09-28 for system consisting of kitchen appliance housing units and/or kitchen units.
This patent grant is currently assigned to bulthaup GmbH & Co. Kuchensysteme. Invention is credited to Thomas Haberl, Robert Heizinger, Otto Langer.
United States Patent |
5,957,557 |
Langer , et al. |
September 28, 1999 |
System consisting of kitchen appliance housing units and/or kitchen
units
Abstract
The invention relates to a system consisting of kitchen
appliance housing units and/or kitchen units which can be stacked
on top of each other and combined with each other. According to the
present invention the housing units and/or kitchen units are all
provided with a service channel in a predetermined and fixed
location, through which service pipes and cables, for example,
electricity, gas, water, waste water, run. The housing units and/or
kitchen units all have a stacking support structure and are linked
together by coupling elements which also allow them to be
separated.
Inventors: |
Langer; Otto (Neumarkt-St.
Veit, DE), Haberl; Thomas (Freising-Attaching,
DE), Heizinger; Robert (Neumarkt-St. Veit,
DE) |
Assignee: |
bulthaup GmbH & Co.
Kuchensysteme (Aich, DE)
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Family
ID: |
7801872 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/905,596 |
Filed: |
August 4, 1997 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
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Aug 5, 1996 [DE] |
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196 31 639 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
312/223.6;
220/4.02; 361/724; 312/236 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B
77/08 (20130101); F24C 15/08 (20130101); A47B
87/02 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47B
87/00 (20060101); A47B 77/08 (20060101); A47B
87/02 (20060101); A47B 081/06 () |
Field of
Search: |
;312/198,223.6,287,107,223.1 ;220/4.26,4.27,4.28,23.6,4.02
;174/50,65,52.1 ;361/727,724 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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254448 |
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May 1967 |
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AT |
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2303548 |
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Aug 1973 |
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DE |
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2519894 |
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Nov 1976 |
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DE |
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3120723 |
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Mar 1983 |
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DE |
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Primary Examiner: Cuomo; Peter M.
Assistant Examiner: Anderson; Gerald A
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Dilworth & Barrese
Claims
We claim:
1. System comprising at least one of kitchen appliance housing
units and kitchen units which are arranged to be stacked on top of
each other and combined with each other, wherein
the units are all provided with a service channel in a fixed
location, through which service pipes and cables run,
the units are linked up together by means of coupling elements
which enable the units to be detached, and
each housing unit for said system comprises (1) a usable area, (2)
an area for at least one of energy supply units and control
elements, and (3) said service channel, said areas (1)-(3) being
physically separated from one another in each said housing
unit.
2. System according to claim 1, wherein the service channel is
located in an area of a back panel of the units.
3. System according to claim 2, wherein the service channel is
designed as a recess which is accessible from the back panel of the
housing units and/or kitchen units and can be closed with a
cover.
4. System according to claim 3, wherein the service pipes and
cables in the service channel are arranged in a predetermined order
and can be connected up via a connecting socket system between the
units.
5. System according to claim 3, wherein the housing units and/or
kitchen and/or kitchen units have a support structure which permits
stacking.
6. Housing unit for a system according to claim 3, wherein it has,
physically separate from each other, a usable area, an area for the
energy supply units, control elements, etc. and a service
channel.
7. System according to one of claim 1, wherein the service pipes
and cables and cables in the service channel are arranged in a
predetermined order and can be connected up via a connecting socket
system between the units.
8. System according to claim 7, wherein the housing units and/or
kitchen units have a support structure which permits stacking.
9. System according to claim 2, wherein the service pipes and
cables and cables in the service channel are arranged in a
predetermined order and can be connected up via a connecting socket
system between the units.
10. System according to claim 2, wherein the units have a support
structure which permits stacking.
11. System according to claim 1, wherein the units have a support
structure which permits stacking.
12. System according to claim 11, wherein the stacking support
structure is based on a system of load-bearing tubes.
13. System according to claim 11, wherein the stacking support
structure is composed of self-supporting side panels with coupling
points.
14. Housing units for a system according to claim 7, wherein it
has, physically separate from each other, a usable area, an area
for the energy supply units, control elements, etc. and a service
channel.
15. A housing unit according to claim 1, wherein said unit is
arranged to accommodate an oven, an air conditioning fan, a warming
compartment, a dishwasher, an extractor fan, an air conditioning
unit, a washing machine, a drier, a refrigerator or a freezer.
16. System according to claim 1, additionally comprising insulation
situated about (1) said usable area.
17. System according to claim 1, comprising controls mounted upon a
front panel of each said unit and coupled to said energy supply
units/control elements in (2) said area therefor.
18. System according to claim 1, wherein said coupling elements
include coupling feet on the bottoms of respective units and
coupling recesses on the tops of respective units, such that said
respective units can be stacked one on top of the other.
19. System according to claim 1, comprising at least one
refrigerator.
20. System according to claim 1, additionally comprising said
control elements/energy supply units situated in (2) said area
therefor.
21. System according to claim 1, comprising at least one fluid
conduit situated in said service channel.
22. System according to claim 21, wherein said fluid conduit is
coupled to at least one of a waste water pump and a continuous flow
water heater.
23. System according to claim 1, wherein said units are structured
and arranged to be joined and fixed together but still remain
detachable by a provision of a common support structure which is
fitted with coupling elements.
24. System according to claim 1, additionally comprising socket
systems arranged at coupling points between said units for
distributing energy between individual modules housed in said
respective units.
25. A housing unit for a system comprising at least one of kitchen
appliance housing units and kitchen units which are arranged to
stacked on top of each other and combined with each other,
wherein
the units are all provided with a service channel in a fixed
location, through which service pipes and cables run,
the units are linked up together by means of coupling elements
which enable the units to be detached,
each said housing unit comprises (1) a usable area, (2) an area for
at least one of energy supply units and control elements, and (3)
said service channel, said areas (1)-(3) all being physically
separated from one another in each said housing unit, and
three separate areas are arranged one behind the other between
front and back panels of the units, such that the (1) usable area
occupies an area nearest to the front panel, (3) the service
channel occupies an area nearest the back panel, and (2) the area
for the energy supply units/control elements occupies the
intermediate area.
26. Housing unit according to claim 25, wherein said unit is
arranged to accommodate an oven, an air conditioning fan, a warming
compartment, a dishwasher, an extractor fan, an air conditioning
unit, a washing machine, a drier, a refrigerator or a freezer.
27. Housing unit according to claim 25, additionally comprising
said control elements/energy supply units situated in (2) said
intermediate area.
28. Housing unit according to claim 25, additionally comprising
controls mounted upon a front panel of each said unit and coupled
to said energy supply units/control elements situated in (2) said
intermediate area.
29. Housing unit according to claim 25, additionally comprising
insulation situated about (1) said usable area in each said unit.
Description
The invention relates to a system consisting of kitchen appliance
housing units and/or kitchen units which can be stacked on top of
each other and combined with each other.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the kitchen area, appliances are installed either as upright
units or, more widely, as built-in units. Appliances which are
built in require extensive modifications to the wooden carcass and
facings with front panels which match the other kitchen units.
Furthermore, wood is sensitive to dampness and the effects of heat.
As the appliances come in different heights which do not match the
units of height used by the kitchen unit manufacturer, it is
necessary to resort to extensive modifications involving the use of
filler units. This makes installation very expensive.
The appliances, which often have been produced by different
manufacturers, have different shapes, controls, dimensions and
functions. Every appliance has its own power supply and different
power consumption. Installation must be carried out by a specialist
electrician. These electrical appliances are generally not
stackable for static reasons. Moreover, the side and back panels do
not have the same finish as the front panels so that it is
undesirable to have them freely exposed to view. Since every
built-in appliance must be harmonized with the kitchen units,
planning and measuring up requires a lot of effort and the
possibility of errors occurring which could be the cause of
complaints is by no means small.
The provision of external panels for appliances and the
modifications to the wooden carcass which are also necessary have
the effect of doubling the cost of installation as well as
resulting in a loss of space. This applies also to the doors, which
often have to be constructed as double doors consisting of the
appliance front in combination with a kitchen unit front panel. An
additional loss of usable space results from the unfavorable
arrangement of the individual elements within the control panel, as
is the case, for example, in ovens.
When the control elements are inside, appliances are difficult to
handle and it is almost impossible to monitor the functioning of
the equipment. An example of this is a fully built-in
dishwasher.
In the event that a family moves house and wishes to re-locate
their appliances, new housing units are necessary to adapt to the
new kitchen layout, resulting in additional costs. Upright units
and built-in appliances cannot satisfy the increasing requirement
for mobility, both with regard to moving home and also within the
same home. Current systems and especially appliance systems are not
flexible enough.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to make
available a system consisting of kitchen appliance housing units
and/or kitchen units which can be stacked on top of each other and
combined with each other, which is as far as possible free of the
above-mentioned disadvantages. In particular, it should be possible
to integrate the appliance housing units flexibly and without
elaborate installation requirements.
This object is achieved in the present invention by the generic
system whose characteristic features include the appliance housing
units and/or kitchen units being linked up together by means of
coupling elements which enable them to be detached. According to
this, the housing units and/or kitchen units are all provided with
a service channel in a predetermined and fixed location, through
which service pipes and cables, for example, electricity, gas,
water, waste water, run. Furthermore, the housing units and/or
kitchen units can be joined together but still remain detachable
because the housing units and/or the kitchen units have a common
support structure which is fitted with appropriate coupling
elements. In the service channel, service pipes and cables,
coupling points (socket systems), waste water pumps, continuous
flow water heaters and control units can be arranged, effectively
forming a general energy supply system. Energy is distributed
between individual modules through socket systems. The power
consumption of each module is fixed. The modular design makes it
possible to control and regulate the kitchen appliances centrally,
for example using a bus system in a domestic adaptation of process
control technology. In this way, condition and failure monitoring
can also be carried out centrally and fault diagnosis by the
after-sales service can be undertaken remotely. A test plug, to
which corresponding diagnostic devices can be attached, can also be
installed. Through the service channel and the linking up of supply
pipes and cables between the individual housing and/or kitchen
units, the energy supply can be regulated centrally. Thus, for
example, the waste heat from the refrigerator can be stored or used
for heating purposes or to heat up water via appropriate heat
exchangers in the service channel. Again, any condensation
generated can be used for humidification in an air conditioning
module. In short, a system produced according to the present
invention is not only a system made up of standardized appliance
housing and/or kitchen units whose dimensions and coupling system
enable them be joined together, but it also embodies an optimized
energy supply concept. It is no longer necessary for the individual
kitchen appliance elements to be fitted separately.
Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in the
disclosure herein.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the service
channel can be arranged in the area of the back panel of the
appliance housing and/or kitchen units. Here the service channel
can preferably be accommodated in a recess which is accessible from
the side and can be closed with a cover.
The service pipes and cables in the service channel are preferably
arranged in a predetermined order and can be connected up with each
other via a connecting socket system between the units.
The housing and/or kitchen units make use of a support structure
which permits stacking. This structure can be based on a system of
load-bearing tubes or it can be formed from self-supporting side
panels fitted with coupling points.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, housing units which are
used in the system according to the present invention are
constructed in such a manner that they have, physically separate
from each other, a usable area, an area for the energy supply
units, control elements etc. and a service channel. The usable area
is located in the area nearest to the front panel and the service
channel in the area of the back panel, while the area for the
energy supply units and control elements can be positioned between
the usable area and the service channel. The usable area is thus
closest to the user while all the energy supply units are
accommodated towards the rear of the appliances. In this way,
losses of space such as occur for example in conventional ovens due
to the comparatively large control box in the front area, are
largely avoided.
Ovens, air conditioning fans, warming compartments, dishwashers,
extractor fans, air conditioning units, washing machines, dryers,
refrigerators or freezers, for example, can be accommodated in the
housing units according to the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Further details and advantages of the invention will be described
in more detail with the aid of the examples of the invention which
are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 provides a front view of a housing unit according to one
embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 2 provides a side view of the housing unit illustrated in FIG.
1,
FIG. 3 shows a housing unit according to a further embodiment of
the present invention,
FIG. 4 provides a side view of the housing unit illustrated in FIG.
3,
FIGS. 5 & 6 are perspective drawings of housing units according
to a preferred embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 7 provides a sectional view of a part of the housing unit
shown in FIG. 5,
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the housing unit shown in FIG. 6,
shown with its pieces dismantled,
FIGS. 9 & 10 show different stacking variants of the system
according to the present invention in perspective view, and
FIGS. 11 to 18 provide details of the stacking variants illustrated
in FIGS. 9 and 10, some in plan view, some in sectional view and
some in perspective view.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In FIG. 1 an oven 10 is shown as an example of a housing unit
according to the present invention. It has an appliance front panel
12, a control facia 14 with controls 16 and a display 18. The
coupling feet shown at 20 slot into corresponding recesses 22 in a
second appliance onto which this one is to be stacked. The side
view provided in FIG. 2 shows how the inner space of the oven unit
is divided into a usable area 24 nearest to the user, a space for
the appliance energy supply units and controls 26 and a service
channel 28 arranged in the area of the back panel, is shown. The
energy supply units, located behind the usable area 24 in the space
at 26, are controlled from the switch 22. Around the usable area
insulation 30 is provided. The appliance front panel 12 consists,
for example, of a flap or revolving door with a vertical handle
(not shown).
In FIGS. 3 and 4 a variant of an oven is shown which differs from
that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in that the switches and display 16/18
are arranged in a horizontal bar handle 32.
Instead of an oven, such as is shown in FIGS. 1-2 and 3-4, a
dishwasher, air conditioning unit, refrigerator or any other
kitchen appliance can here be accommodated in accordance with the
present invention as a built-in unit. In each case, the appliance
is fitted with coupling elements 20/22 at equivalent locations and
has a usable area, an area for the energy supply units and controls
and a service channel as well as a support structure capable of
being stacked. The construction of the stackable support structure
is illustrated FIGS. 5 and 6, in which different support structure
designs are shown.
In FIG. 5 the oven 10 has a support structure based on a system of
load-bearing tubes 34 which consists of individual vertically
running load-bearing tubes which are arranged in the corners. The
design of a corner area is shown in FIG. 7. The diagram shows
connection element 36 from the previous example, which is
preferably constructed of metal and projects outwards to the side
so as to accommodate a tube, while on its inner side it has a
recess at which a facing of metal, wood or synthetic material 40 is
fixed. Attached to this facing is an insulation unit 42, which is
lined along its inside edges adjacent to usable area 24 with a
panel 44 made of steel, special steel or synthetic material. The
front panel of the housing unit, which consists of an insulation
core enclosed within a metal or synthetic material case, is shown
at 46. The tubular system 36 can be joined to another tube 36
belonging to an appliance placed on top, by inserting a tube whose
external diameter is the same size as the diameter of coupling
point 38 between the two units. The inserted tube (not shown) can
be locked into position, for example using attachment screws.
In the example of the invention illustrated in FIG. 6 the oven is
designed as a stackable box whose construction can be seen from
FIG. 8. Here, self-supporting side panels 48 which have hollow
strengthening pieces 51 at their forward and rear edges are
provided to the side. These hollow strengthening pieces 51 each
define a coupling point 38; these coupling points 38 are the
equivalent of the coupling points explained by means of FIGS. 5 and
7. In addition a back panel 50 and a cover 52 are provided.
In FIG. 9 a stacking module is shown by way of example, in which
different housing units and kitchen units are stacked on top of
each other into one complete module. The individual housing units
and kitchen units stand on a pallet 54 which is repeated in FIG.
12, this time in a perspective representation. As can be seen from
FIG. 12, here also matching coupling points 22 are provided. Pallet
54 stands on four legs 56. In the stacking module shown in FIG. 9 a
pull-out drawer module 11 is arranged on pallet 54 as kitchen unit.
Stacked on this are, from bottom to top, a freezer unit 10', an
oven 10 and an extractor hood 10". The space available for service
pipes and cables, which extends down the entire height of the
stacking module, is shown at 28.
In FIG. 10 an alternative arrangement of a stacking module is
shown. Here, the bottom appliance module is once again a freezer
unit 10'. Legs 56 are attached directly to the base of the unit. A
pull-out unit 11 is arranged on top of the refrigerator unit 10'.
Above the pull-out unit 11 is a storage module with door 11', which
is covered over by plate 52'. The service channel, which extends
down the full height of the stacking module in accordance with FIG.
10, is also shown here at 28.
In FIG. 11 the support structure design of the embodiment presented
in FIG. 10 is shown in detail. The support structure consists
essentially of hollow constructions 36', on which the cover 52'
rests. Towards the outside a panel 48' is attached. This, for
example, can have visible joints 58 at the transition points
between the individual units.
FIG. 13 shows a similar version of the support structure design
illustrated in FIG. 11. The diagram shows how the tubes 36' are
linked up together via a connecting element 60, adapted to the
internal diameter of the tube. This connecting element 60 can be
secured, for example, by means of attachment screws.
FIG. 14 shows two housing units 10 and 10' which have an
alternative detachable coupling. Thus, an L-shaped bar 62 is so
arranged on the units 10 and 10' that it can mate with the
respective other bar in the manner shown here in FIG. 14. On the
opposite side, a corresponding coupling stud 20 slots into a recess
22. Through the force of gravity the units 10 and 10' stacked on
top of each other are adequately secured. A covering locking plate
can be screwed on here.
In FIG. 15, the back panel of a module, such as the one presented
in FIG. 9, is shown with service channel 28 in its uncovered state.
Inside the service channel are service pipes and cables 64 for
electricity, water, waste water and gas. In the area of connectors
66, the pipes etc. serving kitchen unit 10/10' branch off. In the
area of kitchen unit 11 the pipes etc. run through the relevant
portion of the service channel without any junction points having
to be provided here. At the transition between modules 10 and 10'
and 10' and 11, connecting conduits in the form of a socket system
68 have been provided.
FIG. 17 shows the back panel of an individual housing unit 10 again
with uncovered service channel 28, also connector 66 via which the
energy supply units in the space provided for them are
supplied.
In the plan view provided in FIG. 16 the service channel 28 is
shown with the pipes and cables 64 which run inside it and the
cover 70 removed.
FIG. 18 likewise shows the back panel of a stacking module
comprising several units stacked on top of each other as per FIG. 9
and therefore is similar to the module shown in FIG. 15. Here the
pin-and-socket connectors 68 are again schematically depicted.
Items 72 and 74 refer to electricity and water connections which
are connected to the service pipes and cables 64 by means of a
socket system.
* * * * *